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Mayor comments on firefighters union lawsuit

Mayor Jean Stothert commented on an ongoing dispute over her proposed 2014 city budget and firefighters union lawsuit.

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Updated: 7:09 PM CDT Jul 24, 2013

Mayor comments on firefighters union lawsuit

Mayor Jean Stothert commented on an ongoing dispute over her proposed 2014 city budget and firefighters union lawsuit.

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Updated: 7:09 PM CDT Jul 24, 2013

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WEBVTT PETERSEN. IT'S THE LATEST IN AN ONGOING DISPUTE OVER PART OF HER PROPOSED 2014 BUDGET. K-E-T-V NEWSWATCH 7'S TODD ANDREWS.. ..IS LIVE WITH THE BIG STORY AT SIX. MAYOR STOTHERT IS áNOT BACKING DOWN. SHE TELLS US SHE'S CONFIDENT THE LAWSUIT WILL NOT AFFECT THE BUDGET PROCESS AS IT MOVES FORWARD. THE CITY COUNCIL ..SAYS IT'S KEEPING AN EYE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING. ONLY KETV NW7 IS THERE( NATS: " give us an overview " ) AS FINANCE OFFICIALS BRIEF THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE BUDGET THAT, IN PART, SPARKED A FIRE UNION LAWSUIT. ONE FLOOR UP AT CITY HALL..MAYOR JEAN STOTHERT SPEAKS OUT ON THAT SUIT( Mayor Jean Stothert / Omaha: " I think it's unfortunate " ) FILED BY THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION TUESDAY ( Stothert: " I reached out to them -- invited them here -- asked them to work with me -- and it was their choice not to; it was their choice to say, ' We're going to sue the city and the taxpayers ' " ) THE LEGAL CHALLENGE--FILED THE SAME DAY THE MAYOR DELIVERED HER 2014 BUDGET PLAN TO THE COUNCIL--CLAIMS THAT THE PLAN'S CALL FOR LAYOFFS, IDLED TRUCKS, AND DEMOTIONS.. VIOLATES THE UNION CONTRACT NOW..STOTHERT'S BALKING AT THE LAWSUIT ..AND ITS ASSERTION THAT THE CITY'S BACKING OFF ON ABIDING BY A NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION RULE TODAY..WE ASKED HER IF THAT LAWSUIT MIGHT DISRUPT THE ONGOING BUDGET PROCESS( Mayor Jean Stothert / Omaha: " The budget process WILL continue " ) WHAT'S MORE--STOTHERT MAINTAINS SHE'S STILL WILLING TO WORK WITH THE UNION & DEPARTMENT ..ON A DIFFERENT BUDGETARY SOLUTION( Stothert: " It's always better to negotiate than to litigate " ) ( TODD ANDREWS / Reporting: " City councilmembers we talked to said they were hopeful both sides could come to an agreement soon -- and avoid future legal entanglements " ) COUNCIL PRESIDENT PETE FESTERSEN TELLS US HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES ARE MONITORING THE SITUATION( Pete Festersen / Omaha City Council: " -- we hope that dispute can be resolved because it's not productive to the situation going forward " ) BUT HE ALSO ASSURES THAT THE 2014 BUDGET PROCESS--NOW FULLY IN THE COUNCIL'S HANDS--IS MOVING AHEAD( Pete Festersen: " -- still on track for an August public hearing and September vote " ) THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION DECLINED COMMENT TODAY. WE ALSO ASKED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR COMMENT -- THEY POINTED BACK TO THEIR COMMENTS TUESDAY THAT THEY'D HAVE A CHANCE TO PRESENT THEIR SIDE TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT NEXT MONTH'S HEARING ON THE BUDGET. TODD ANDREWS..THANKS

Mayor comments on firefighters union lawsuit

Mayor Jean Stothert commented on an ongoing dispute over her proposed 2014 city budget and firefighters union lawsuit.